Loss of MicroRNA targets in the 3' untranslated region as a mechanism of retroviral insertional activation of growth factor independence 1

J Virol. 2009 Aug;83(16):8051-61. doi: 10.1128/JVI.00427-09. Epub 2009 May 27.

Abstract

The non-oncogene-bearing retrovirus SL3-3 murine leukemia virus induces strictly T-cell lymphomas with a mean latency of 2 to 4 months in mice of the NMRI-inbred (NMRI-i) strain. By high-throughput sequencing of retroviral tags, we have identified the genomic region carrying the transcriptional repressor and oncogene growth factor independence 1 (Gfi1) as a frequent target for SL3-3 in the NMRI-i mouse genome. Twenty-four SL3-3 insertions were identified within a 1-kb window of the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of the Gfi1 gene, a clustering pattern unique for this lymphoma model. Expression analysis determined that the Gfi1 gene was transcriptionally activated by SL3-3 insertions, and an upregulation of Gfi1 protein expression was detected for tumors harboring insertions in the Gfi1 3'UTR. Here we provide data in support of a mechanism by which retroviral insertions in the Gfi1 3'UTR decouple microRNA-mediated posttranscriptional regulation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3' Untranslated Regions*
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / chemistry
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Leukemia Virus, Murine / genetics
  • Leukemia Virus, Murine / physiology*
  • Mice
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutagenesis, Insertional*
  • RNA Splicing
  • Retroviridae Infections / genetics*
  • Retroviridae Infections / metabolism
  • Retroviridae Infections / virology
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Transcription Factors / chemistry
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Transcriptional Activation
  • Up-Regulation
  • Virus Integration*

Substances

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Gfi1 protein, mouse
  • MicroRNAs
  • Transcription Factors